“I think any of us who are public figures, you see that kind of ad and you cringe,” he said.

Christie said Obama’s daughters have no say over whether they have a security detail, nor do his children.

“I’m a father who is a public figure, who has four children and my children had no choice realistically in what I decided to do with my career and what affect that has had on their lives,” Christie said at a State House news conference.

The brief ad asks “Are the presidents kids more important than yours? Then why is he skeptical about putting armed security in our schools when his kids are protected by armed guards at their school? Mr. Obama demands the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes, but he’s just another elitist hypocrite when it comes to a fair share of security.”

Christie has taken a similar stance against the NRA’s suggestion that armed guards be placed in all schools saying he doesn’t want the education settings turned into “armed camps.” But at the news conference, where he announced a new state task force to study gun control, violence, mental health and substance abuse issues, he also said if someone can show him data that shows such guards would be beneficial, he would reconsider his position.

The governor said the NRA should be focusing on the bigger issues.

“Don’t be dragging people’s children into this,” he said. “It’s wrong and I think it demeans them and it makes them less of a valid trusted source of information on the real issues that confront this debate.”

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The Bloggers

Melissa Hayes, who has worked at The Record since 2010, covers Gov. Chris Christie and politics for the State House Bureau. Follow her on Twitter at @Record_Melissa. View all of her posts

Herb Jackson is the Washington correspondent for The Record, covering North Jersey issues on the Potomac, including the activities of the congressional delegation and federal policies that affect the region. Follow him on Twitter @Record_DC.View all of his posts.

John Reitmeyer, a reporter in the State House Bureau since 2007, focuses on taxes, state budgets, campaign finance and government ethics. Follow him on Twitter @JohnReitmeyer. View all of his posts

Charles Stile is the political columnist for The Record. He is a former State House Bureau chief at The Record and has covered politics and government in New Jersey for more than two decades. Follow him on Twitter @PoliticalStile. View all of his posts